Thoughts, fiction, photography…located slightly to the left of reality

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The HoneyMoon’s over (Lake Michigan)

Originally published 6.15.2014 on The Tempest and the Teapot’s Google site.

This Friday, June 13th, 2014 – there was a rare event. A full moon rising on Friday the 13th. What made this moonrise even rarer was the coloration – a warm, amber-honey color was predicted for this rising. Thus, the Honey Moon.

So, risking all the horrors of Friday the 13th – and when you’re carrying a DSLR camera to the beach/lakefront that’s a LOT of money to be daring the bad-luck fairy to look away from – the mythos of the full moon causing madness (ok…so I’m already crazy and didn’t need to worry too much about that one) and the SQO’s being bored, I dragged him into the car and off we went.

Once we got to the lake, I realized I had forgotten all about the whole ‘cooler by the lake’ thing, and was only wearing a light top with no sleeves. Well… Artists always suffer for their work. My Turn!!!

We arrived a bit early – sunset was in full swing, but the moon hadn’t come up yet. So, as I had some time to kill, I set up on my beach for some sunset shots.

I wasn’t disappointed – Mother Nature delivered a very purple sunset…

My beach on the Lake (and just to be clear, here, if I’ve gone to a location for shots 3x or more, it officially, at least in my mind, becomes ‘mine.’ My Beach, my Riverwalk, my Fountain, etc…) runs roughly northwest to southeast, so I can get both sunset and moonrise on the same location.

I foresee a foray out to my beach in my future…one VERY early morning.. to catch a sunrise.

Two years, hasn’t happened yet. Can I procrastinate, or what???

As we made our way up the concrete causeway to the round observatory extending into the Lake, I found – people. Not many people, mind you…but just a few -as crazy as I am- with cameras extended toward the horizon to catch the Honey Moon rising. Once again proving that I’m not the only nut-job in this state, but amongst a small, eccentric minority of slightly insane nature-lovers.

I snapped away. Moonrise was well in progress, the color was fantastic, and the camera was singing in electronic joy. Once I took my attention off the moon – I noticed the power plant further up the shoreline. Beautiful, the way the reflections hit the water.

Say what you will about the cost of utilities these days, but I’ll forgive them my high-heat bill last winter for them putting out this spectacular light show on the shore. But only last winter’s bills. This winter, they’re on their own.

Now, I know I’ve mentioned that the SQO is a musician. As a performer, he’s a natural in front of the camera. I’ve lost count of the number of projects he’s appeared in – he’s always a willing vict…er…volunteer for whatever insane idea I have involving my camera.

I’d come across a number of forced perspective photos on the web – and naturally, the ‘what the hell’ just burst out of me in the throes of the moonrise (who am I to question the strange ideas blooming under the light of the full moon?)
Several moments of ‘just a bit to the right, now raise your hand JUUUUUUST a bit more, back to the left a hair, turn your head a little more, lower your chin, NOPE, too much, lower your hand a fraction of an inch,’ produced this ducky little shot.

And, as an aside – He was certainly more attentive to the Lakeshore temperature than I was – June, and he’s sensibly dressed in a leather jacket, hat, and scarf, while I’m doing the whole ‘Freezin’ for a Reason’ thing.

Overall, the shoot went well – but I couldn’t tempt the wicked fates of Friday the 13th by getting great shots without paying the price for my success – even with being under dressed, freezing my bunz off, and succumbing to the influences of the light of the crazy-generating moon. (where do you think the term ‘lunatic’ comes from?)

Finally, there were no more good shots to be had. As the moon rose higher in the sky, the amber hue faded away, until only the standard white moon filled the sky. Quite pleased with my shots, I quickly packed things up…because by this time I was shaking more than a bit, I believe I started acquiring a lovely shade of blue, and the mosquitoes were undaunted by the brisk night air.

In Wisconsin, the mosquitoes grow fur to combat the weather!

The DSLR came off the tripod and into its bag – close and clip. The Canon with the mega-zoom got looped around my neck. The tripod was folded, but the legs were still extended. The teacup had its own little bag to stay secure in, along with a smallish brass chalice I’d picked up at Goodwill (seriously, folks, if you’re ever looking for awesome photo props that won’t break the bank – go to your local Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul, or any other resale shop in your area), and they were both nestled inside.

We made haste to the car – up the concrete sidewalk toward shelter and warmth, when I heard it.

A metallic tink. Followed by the breaking of glass.

I had forgotten to zip the bag with the teacup. Both it, and the chalice, launched from the bag in a misguided attempt to break for freedom. My poor, brave, foolish little teacup. I guess the pressures of stardom were too much for it. It must have been depressed to never be pressed into service as a container for a hot bath of Earl Grey, surrounded with happy, crunchy bikkies on the side. It ended its life of photographic supermodel-dom on the concrete walkway for the observatory on Bender Beach on the Wisconsin side of Lake Michigan.

Rest in Pieces, little buddy. Friday the 13th took you from me, and the Honey Moon is now over…

Nope…I was not the author of the Honey Moon thing…someone else came up with that.

I have been watching since then, though…there’s been the blood moon, the strawberry moon, the super moon (sans cape, sadly) and a couple of other descriptors for moon-related celestial occurrences. We’re still obsessed with our nearest spacial neighbor as a race.

I’ve never been able to replace the little footed teacup – and I’ve searched resale shops high and low. One day…